In line with the NCPD, youth, who kind 35% of the Kenyan inhabitants, have the very best unemployment fee of 67%. With restricted formal job alternatives and growing financial pressures, many younger persons are compelled to discover various technique of livelihood, together with entrepreneurship.
To raised perceive the views of Kenya’s youth on employment and entrepreneurship, GeoPoll carried out a survey capturing insights into their aspirations, challenges, and perceived alternatives. This report highlights the important thing findings from the survey and sheds gentle on the present state of youth employment, their attitudes towards entrepreneurship, and the structural limitations they face in attaining financial stability.
Demographic Overview
The survey gathered suggestions from a different group of younger folks in Kenya. The members ranged from 18-35 years previous, with the biggest share being between 25-35 years previous (64%), and comprised 63% male and 37% feminine. A major quantity held faculty levels (70%).
Family Revenue
When requested about their current family earnings, the biggest group, at 44%, makes lower than Kes. 30,000. That is adopted by 20% who earn between Kes. 30,000 and Kes. 50,000, after which 17% who’ve an earnings starting from Kes. 50,000 to Kes. 80,000. Solely 6% stated they earn over Kes. 150,000.
Key Findings
Employment Standing
The findings revealed a blended image: 38% of respondents recognized as unemployed, highlighting the continuing battle for steady job alternatives. Conversely, 37% reported being employed full-time, whereas 26% indicated part-time employment, reflecting the various methods younger persons are collaborating within the workforce.
Prime employment sectors in Kenya
Amongst these surveyed, 19% recognized themselves as working within the Info and Communications Know-how (ICT) sector, making it the biggest group. Kenya is famend for know-how management throughout the continent. Numerous Kenyan youth work within the digital financial system, together with distant work, freelancing, and content material creation, which made the federal government implement the Digital Service Tax.
The agribusiness sector accounted for 14% of employment. Moreover, one other 14% of respondents reported being concerned within the sale of products and companies, significantly inside the grocery store business. The resort and tourism sector comprised 12% of the workforce, whereas 8% have been employed in each finance and insurance coverage. The manufacturing sector employed 7% of staff, and transportation accounted for five% of employment. The development business, , which the federal government has been pushing by means of the Inexpensive Housing Program, represented 3% of these employed.
Facet Hustles
Regardless of the variations in employment standing, nearly all of respondents (71 %) reported having facet hustles—small-scale entrepreneurial actions that complement their earnings. This highlights the resilience and flexibility of Kenya’s youth, who’re leveraging their expertise and creativity to navigate an unpredictable financial surroundings.
In search of for Employment
Among the many people recognized as unemployed, which constitutes 37% of the surveyed inhabitants, a big 91% are actively looking for employment. Inside this group, 33% have reported that their job search has prolonged over the previous two years. A further 26% have been looking for a couple of 12 months however lower than two years, whereas 24% have been in pursuit of employment for a length of six months to 1 12 months. Lastly, 18% have begun their search inside the final six months.
Unemployment challenges
When requested about a number of the challenges they confronted as being unemployed, a staggering 80% of respondents cited a scarcity of job alternatives as the first hurdle. Moreover, 42% pointed to the pervasive challenge of nepotism and cronysm, expressing frustration over the need of private connections to safe employment. Inadequate networking alternatives have been highlighted by 39% of members, whereas 34% underscored insufficient assist from authorities and establishments as a barrier. Different important challenges embody lack of labor expertise (32%), restricted entry to profession steerage (17%), and expertise mismatches (17%). Psychological well being struggles and low morale additionally emerged, with 6% noting the emotional toll of extended unemployment.
Entrepreneurship
The survey revealed a robust entrepreneurial spirit amongst Kenyan youth, with an awesome 87% expressing curiosity in beginning their very own companies. This highlights a rising inclination towards self-employment as a pathway to financial independence and alternative.
Moreover, the survey discovered that 56% of respondents want working their companies full-time, whereas 39% expressed curiosity in pursuing entrepreneurship on a part-time foundation. Notably, 6% remained unsure about their most popular method.
Entrepreneurship Sector
In the case of sectors of curiosity, retail and commerce emerged as essentially the most desired area, attracting 33% of the respondents. Agriculture adopted carefully with 27%, reflecting the sector’s longstanding significance in Kenya’s financial system. Know-how ranked third at 21%, highlighting the rising attraction of innovation and digital options among the many youth. These preferences underscore a mix of conventional and trendy entrepreneurial pursuits formed by each market alternatives and rising traits.
Entrepreneurship Barrier
Beginning a enterprise in Kenya presents a number of challenges for youth. A major 72% of respondents cited lack of entry to capital as the first impediment, limiting their potential to appreciate their concepts. Moreover, 9% famous the absence of assist techniques or mentors, whereas 7% talked about market competitors as a barrier to sustaining their companies.
Moreover, 6% recognized a scarcity of enterprise data and expertise, pointing to deficiencies in schooling and coaching. Additionally, 6% expressed uncertainty about beginning their ventures, whether or not as a result of unclear enterprise concepts or being overwhelmed by too many choices. These findings underscore the necessity for improved entry to funding, mentorship, and capacity-building initiatives for younger entrepreneurs in Kenya.
Alternatives for younger folks
A good portion of the youth in Kenya (60%) holds the idea that ample alternatives exist for younger people excited about entrepreneurship. Nevertheless, 33% of the respondents categorical the opposite view, indicating that they imagine there are inadequate alternatives obtainable. Moreover, 7% of the youth are unsure and wouldn’t have a transparent opinion on the matter.
Assist
Monetary assist (grants and loans) (82%) – is essentially the most sought-after type of help for aspiring younger entrepreneurs, with 82% of respondents figuring out it as essential to beginning their companies. This highlights the numerous function of entry to capital in empowering youth to beat monetary limitations and kickstart their ventures. Mentorship and steerage (51%) – The survey additionally discovered that mentorship and steerage are extremely valued by younger entrepreneurs, with 51% of respondents figuring out them as important types of assist.
Talent coaching packages (51%) – The survey additional revealed that talent coaching packages are a key want for younger entrepreneurs, with 51% of respondents highlighting their significance. These packages play a vital function in equipping youth with sensible data and experience to handle and develop their companies successfully.
Authorities Insurance policies and incentives (45%) – 45% of respondents recognized Authorities insurance policies and incentives as an essential think about beginning a enterprise. This highlights the necessity for favorable insurance policies, reminiscent of tax incentives, subsidies, and business-friendly rules, which can assist scale back limitations to entry for younger entrepreneurs.
Networking occasions (39%) – Networking occasions have been acknowledged as an important assist mechanism, with 39% of respondents emphasizing their significance. These occasions present younger entrepreneurs with worthwhile alternatives to attach with potential companions, traders, and business specialists, fostering collaboration and enterprise development.
Coaching Packages
The survey revealed that 54% of respondents have engaged in entrepreneurial or enterprise coaching packages supplied by both governmental or non-governmental organizations. Amongst those that participated, 34% reported that these packages reasonably enhanced their entrepreneurial and enterprise expertise. Moreover, 29% famous a slight enchancment, whereas 26% skilled a big enhancement of their expertise. Conversely, 10% of members indicated that they noticed no enchancment from the coaching acquired.
Methodology/About this Survey
This Unique Survey was run through the GeoPoll cellular utility between the tenth and fifteenth of November 2024 in Kenya. The pattern dimension was 749, composed of random app customers between 18 and 35. Because the survey was randomly distributed, the outcomes are barely skewed in direction of youthful respondents.
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